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Monthly Archives: May 1940
May 30, 1940 – In Flanders Fields
The Battle of Belgium is over, at least for my grandfather’s unit. While Allied troops continue to withdraw from Dunkirk (and in the end, more than 330.000 men will have been successfully evacuated) my grandfather and his Commanding Officer are … Continue reading
May 28, 1940 – The Belgian Army surrenders
The remains of the Belgian Army which were now located in the area southeast of the city of Bruges on the flat country side, the sea in their backs, had no further options – they could not free themselves, there … Continue reading
May 27, 1940 – “Operation Dynamo” begins
The situation is now getting desperate for the Allied forces – the Daily Reports are providing the following information: “A Belgian peace negotiator shows with with XI. Corps, asking for a cease fire. We demanded unconditional surrender. No further details … Continue reading
May 26, 1940 -The Fighting continues
The guns are still in their firing positions at St. Louis (1), east of Courtrai. Their targets for the day (or rather the night and the day) are Lichtervelde (2) and Pittem (3). Their rounds are going straight into the … Continue reading
May 24, 1940 – Over the Scheldt River to St. Louis
Between Ghent and Courtrai, the Wehrmacht had managed to break the last defensive line of the Allied forces, the mass of seven Infantry Divisions has crossed the river Lys. Note: at that time, an Infanry Division roughly counted 18.000 men … Continue reading
May 23, 1940
While there is nothing to note in my grand fathers diary, there are photos from their battery at Klijpe. That seems to be one of the guns, with the second one setup nearby… In the north, the Wehrmacht captured Terneuzen … Continue reading
May 22, 1940 – Breakthrough over the Scheldt River
The Situation of the Army report for the Wehrmacht on the evening of May 22, 1940, reports severe resistance and fighting on the western banks of the Scheldt river between Tournai and Ghent. Around Ghent, the Belgian Army is defending … Continue reading
May 21, 1940 – Closing in to the Front
The next day, May 21, 1940, the men of AR 84 are taking a first firing position, as it seems. Unfortunately, I cannot read the place’s name properly and/or I cannot locate a matching location on any of the maps. … Continue reading
May 20, 1940 – From Chastre to Castle Graty
The front has moved to the west, significantly. The new front line is the Scheldt River, behind which the remains of the Belgian Army, some parts of the French Army in Belgium and the British Expeditionary Force had withdrawn. The … Continue reading
May 19, 1940 – From Cras-Avernas to Chastre
Wherever my grandfather had been around the previous days, on the morning of May 19, he is on the road again, the men are relocating from Cras-Avernas to Chastre, north-north-west of Gembloux. But they would not leave Cras-Avernas without proper … Continue reading